Social Determinants of TB in the US
Social determinants of health are factors that make a particular group more susceptible to disease than others. In most cases, they are determined by socioeconomic factors. In the US context, various social determinants make TB more susceptible to certain population groups as indicated by Noppert et al. (2018). One of the factors is racial/ethnic features. According to Noppert et al/. (2018) Blacks are at a higher risk than any other population group. The nativity status also has a role to play where the same research indicated that non-native born Americans and other migrants are at a higher risk (15% more likelihood) of getting TB than native-born Americans. This has been majorly attributed to the socio-economic status of the native countries among other factors prevalent in those countries.
Income level or the socio-economic status of individuals also have a great correlation to the likelihood of getting TB (Noppert et al., 2018). People from a low SES are highly likely to delay receiving treatment, thus, exposing others to the risk of contracting the disease. Likewise, SES determines the environment where one lives in which is also a factor linked to the increased likelihood of getting TB. Affordability of healthcare services including proper nutrition for persons having TB also makes it an issue in reducing the high prevalence of the disease among people of low SES.
Another factor is nutrition, whereby, people who have limited access to proper nutrition are at a higher risk of getting TB. Malnutrition by itself does not cause TB, whose main cause is the mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. However, malnourished persons have a lower immunity making them more predisposed to getting TB.
Education is also another social determinant of TB. For people with low educational status, knowledge of preventive measures and prompt treatment of the disease is limited. Thus, the result is increased exposure to the disease as compared to people with higher educational status, with equipped knowledge on the disease (Noppert et al., 2018).
As earlier alluded, the physical environment is also a major social determinant of TB. With exposure to polluted environments, the likelihood of contracting TB also increases. The inherent lifestyle behaviors are also a determinant, whereby, in areas where people smoke, share their cigarettes or engage in similar risky behaviors, there is an increased chance of getting the disease. These are some of the listed factors that have major contributions to an increased likelihood of persons getting TB
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